Be Praised, My Lord, through Sister Water
In 2005 and 2007 in Brazil the Franciscan Dom Luis Cappio had gone on a hunger strike to protest against the large-scale project to redirect the river Rio São Francisco. The two planned canals of 720 kilometers in length would be an advantage for large construction companies, irrigation firms, steel melts, crab breeders, and the export-oriented agro-business; it would, however, be a catastrophe for peasants, indigenes as well as the environment alongside the riverbed, so critics say. The project is already in construction. The interests of the big ones prevailed- regardless of the small ones’ right to exist.
The project has hardly vanished from the headlines when it is followed by the next Pharaonic endeavor: the embankment construction Belo Monte in Paraná. The planned reservoir would stretch for more than 500 kilometers through Indian reserves. Many thousands of people would lose their homeland and even more animals would be doomed to die. Nevertheless, the Brazilian Government is advancing the controversial embankment construction. Dom Erwin Kräutler, who was born in Austria, Bishop of Xingu (PA) and President of the indigenous mission Council - Conselho Indigenista Missionário (CIMI), is one of the castigators of the project. Apart from the Church and national facilities there are also international movements opposing the construction of Belo Monte. "Amazonia is a great responsibility for Brazil, but its impact also goes far beyond Brazilian borders. Therefore it is important to receive testimonials of solidarity from the international community ", Dom Erwin said.
The Indians are preparing for war against the project. It seems to come true what experts have been predicting for a long time, that future wars will not be about oil but about water, at least on a local level. Water is one of the prime elements of everyday life for people, animals and plants. And water is also a quite significant element for large industrial companies. Through privatization of water resources these companies are trying to get a hold of the joint natural heritage and to make profit from it – by water mining in areas with large groundwater reservoirs, through intensive exploitation of rivers and streams of this world, through the operation of governmental and municipal water systems. Water is thus becoming part of the living costs that the rich are able to afford, but the poor will be suffering more and more.
The present situation: The global fresh water reservoir is depleting. For four billion people it is already difficult to have access to clean drinking water. This is owed to the uneven distribution. While the rich North has plenty of water and wastes it, many regions of the world suffer from more and more dry periods. Two-thirds of the land surface of Africa is covered with ecologically endangered arid areas or deserts. The surface damaged by overexploitation, over-fertilization, clearing, and insufficient irrigation is continuously expanding. This also complicates the supply with basic foods. The problem of water supply and distribution has already reached explosive nature in regions with a shortage of water such as in the Middle East. Countries may cut ground from under each others feet thus seriously endangering the already fragile peace. The problem of drinking water supply is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century.
Can a solution be found? Only if there is a radical change of thinking. Water is a gift of God, which should not be privatized for profit reasons. This should be a global stipulation. Creation has been laid out so generously – if we would only share and not pollute "Be Praised, My Lord, through Sister Water, she is most useful, humble, precious and pure." (Canticle of the Sun) The entire Canticle of the Sun is marked by the grateful insight that all this cannot be taken for granted. The terminally ill Francis still has the marveling eyes of a child, he wants to tell the world that God’s creation holds life in abundance if we nourish and cherish it and we do not carelessly exploit and destroy it. Maybe there have to be dry periods and devastations to comprehend it again. Maybe there has to be thirst and hunger to newly value the vital principal of water. Conservation alone will not be sufficient; we will have to get involved in political and economic litigations for water to remain available for all people in sufficient quantity. Just as Dom Luis Cappio and Dom Erwin Kräutler are doing by risking their own lives.
Andreas Müller OFM
CCFMC Center
General Assembly of the CCFMC Registered Society on 6 May 2010
The Assembly took place at the CCFMC Center in Würzburg. It was attended by Fr. Klaus Beurle, Sr. Judith Dinkel, Dr. Claudio Ettl, Sr. Marianne Jungbluth, Professor Elmar Klinger, Mrs. Patricia Hoffmann, Fr. Andreas Müller, Sr. Irmlind Rehberger and Fr. Anton Rotzetter.
The General Assembly is the responsible decision-making body of the CCFMC Registered Society enabling the CCFMC Center in Würzburg to work as the service point for the world-wide promotion of the Course. Such a legal framework is the prerequisite to run an office with staff, administration of donations and project support. The Registered Society is assigned to the international management team, which in turn is represented on the Board by its President. The General Assembly elects the Board, supervises the management and approves the annual budget.
Apart from these rules, the agenda of the Assembly on 6 May contained the re-election of the Board as well as changes in the office of the CCFMC Center. There was also discussion on the issues of acquisition of financial means and the realization of the expert team that had been decided on in Frascati.
For the next four years, the following persons have been elected as board members:
Chairperson: Professor Elmar Klinger
First Vice-Chairperson: Sr. Irmlind Rehberger
Second Vice-Chairperson: Fr. Anton Rotzetter (as President of the CCFMC natural member of the Board)
Board Members: Sr. Judith Dinkel and Sr. Paulin Link.
Father Andreas Müller leaves the CCFMC Center – Farewell and Words of Thanks
Anton Rotzetter, Capuchin, CCFMC President
The meeting of the CCFMC Registered Society implemented what had been decided by the responsible international management team during its get-together in Frascati at the end of October 2009: Fr. Andreas was released as managing director and he also resigned as Chairperson of the Board of the CCFMC at the same time. His duties as managing director will be assumed by Patricia Hoffmann. As President of the CCFMC I would like to extent my best wishes and God’s blessings to Patricia Hoffmann in fulfilling her new duties.
In my capacity I have the honor to thank Fr. Andreas for the decades of relentless engagement. I am doing so with a deep feeling of sadness. As I had wished all that much that he would have been able to keep performing his tasks for a long time to come. And due to his exceptional sprightliness he would still be able to do so. Only the responsibility for his “baby“ demanded to arrange for his succession now. The baby should not be left abandoned all of a sudden.
The CCFMC is truly Father Andreas’ “baby”. Without him the course would not exist, neither the specific arrangement. Without him there would not have been any funds or this international agglomeration of engagement. For centuries he was source, negotiator, motivator and animator and an effective manager of large and small matters. The entire Franciscan Family owes him appreciation and gratitude.
Let me say at the same time that Father Andreas will be available to the CCFMC Center if time allows and when he feels strong enough to do so. He will still be traveling on behalf of the CCFMC management to various areas in order to promote the Course. And he will also continue working in many other areas as well.
Everyone at the Center and worldwide is very happy about that.
In the months to come Sr. Judith Dinkel of the Sisters of St. Francis of Vierzehnheiligen will learn the ropes at the CCFMC Center to accept her own responsibilities as a permanent team member in 2011. I would also like to wish her all the best in her new position and I would like to thank her for her disposition.
Fr. Andreas says “Thank you“
No, it is not melancholy, but a sense of deep-felt gratitude that fills my heart. It is a gift that I was able to accompany, animate and support this unique CCFMC project from the very beginning. This initial worldwide inter-Franciscan joint project – it was difficult at times, it went through setbacks and disappointments, but all in all it was a success story of almost thirty years. Having started as an OFM Project in 1981 it soon became an impulse giver for the entire Franciscan Family.
I would like to thank God that he has expected this of me, I would like to thank the responsible people of my order, the inter-Franciscan committees and last but not least the Mission Center of the Franciscans for confiding in me. I would like to thank all Sisters and Brothers of the national and continental coordination teams; without them this remarkable effort would not have lead to such fast success. It is not least important that I always was surrounded by good people who were able to compensate my deficits. I am especially grateful for this.
Being an active contemporary witness of the very beginnings I will be happy to continue working and render assistance on voluntary basis, whenever it will be needed. May God show you what is good for this project, and may he bless your work – for the benefit of the Franciscan Family, for the benefit of the poor and for the benefit of the world. I sincerely hope that the OFM Brothers will still have a leading part in the process.
Yours Fr. Andreas
New SFO Representative on the International Board of the CCFMC
Jozsef Szentirmai is the new representative of the Third Order Secular (SFO) on the International Board of the CCFMC. At the end of November 2009 he was appointed to be the successor for Tibor Kauser during the XII General Chapter of the SFO in Budapest.
Tibor Kauser, a long-term and dedicated representative of the SFO on the International Board of the CCFMC was relieved from this task at his own request. His new position as person in charge of formation in the English-speaking countries of Europe and Northern American within the international SFO Steering Committee would not leave him enough time for his former task, Tibor Kauser explained.
Jozsef Szentirmai is a member of the SFO from Hungary and he is presently the representative of the International Fraternity of Hungary on the International Council. ”I am certain that Jozsef will be able to represent the SFO well and that he will be doing his best, just as Tibor did before him in supporting the CCFMC“, Doug Clorey, Vice Minister General writes to the CCFMC Center in December 2009.
On 7 May 2010 Tibor and Jozsef paid a visit to the CCFMC Center in Würzburg. In a very lively discussion it became obvious that the judgment by the Vice Minster General was seconded by the Center in Würzburg. ”We would like to thank Tibor for his the long and good times he spent with us and we would like to welcome Jozsef in our midst. We are delighted about this fast and good decision by the international administration of the SFO“ can be read in a statement by the CCFMC Center in Würzburg.
Asia
Philippines
Franciscan Youth is introduced to the CCFMC
Between end of April and early May 2010 120 youth participated in the National Assembly of the Young Franciscans (Youfrans) as well as in the meeting of formators and animators at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary, Bagbag Novaliches, Quezon City. The theme of the meeting was “Youfra: moved by love, dare to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly. “
The participants were able to select from the varied number of lectures and activities based on their own personal interests. The topics, which were partially covered simultaneously included: Passing the Word, Youth Minister, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Retreat and Recollection, Franciscan Charism; Personality Development; Theology of the Body; Planning and Organization, Youth Formation.
Sister Jeanne, Joy Fabic and Fe dela Rosa from the CCFMC team conducted a presentation on the topic of Franciscan charism. Based on the composition of the group and its little knowledge about it, their introductory presentation focuses on topics from the CCFMC lesson units that are especially appealing to adolescents.
In the final evaluation the young participants from ages 12 to 15 years drew the following conclusions from what they had heard:
· For Francis the Church is not the structure, but the heart
· Jesus is our role model, like Francis we also have to love all creatures
· Youfra members can help to change the world and the environment
· Being a Youfra member means to deal responsibly with God’s creation.
Successful conclusion of the CCFMC Course in Siquijor
The entire program of the Comprehensive Course on Franciscan Missionary Charism (CCFMC) with its 25 lesson units has been successfully completed in the Philippine province of Siquijor. The national CCFMC Coordinator, Maria Renita Fabic, reports that the final phase of the program had taken place from 23 to 25 October 2009. The participants were members of the Third Order Secular (SFO) from the fraternities of Maria, Talinting, Larena and Siquijor.
This final phase mainly focused on religious-mystical and socio-political dimensions of the Franciscan Mission Charism. The talks by Alfonso Salcedo, Father Arbas and Father Macion had been especially impressive – all three had participated in the entire program. They enriched their lectures with experiences from everyday life and, therefore, the participants could understand them even better. Alfonso Salcedo, who is a judge and a political activist and a detainee during the Marcos Regime of Martial Law, talked about capitalism, Marxism, and globalization; Father Arbas, being the manager of a cooperation on diocesan level, talked on liberation theology; Fr. Macion elaborated on anthropological aspects of enculturation, especially the salvation of the human being, the integrity of his nature and his culture. Sister Dorothy from Zamboanga provided an impressive contribution with her talk about the dialogue with the Muslims, just as Joy Fabic did, who covered the role of the Franciscans in the Church of today.
During the meeting the participants did not only receive information on the current problems of the Island of Siquijor – reforestation, illegal fishing, poverty, corruption and the like –, but also, what kind of challenges these problems are for an SFO member. The course participants elaborated a plan of action which includes stronger use of the CCFMC lesson units in their formation program. ”The CCFMC has become a successful and strong instrument for the SFO members in Siquijor,“ are the closing words of the report from the Philippine Province.
Thailand
Convergence within the Franciscan Family
An initial step in the inter-Franciscan collaboration in Thailand has been taken. Representatives from the Third Order Secular (SFO), of the OFM, OFMCap and the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SFIC) recently gathered for a retreat, which had been initiated by the CCFMC. This was an important step in the implementation of the action plan that had been agreed in March 2008 during the big CCFMC Seminar in Bangkok.
The former Provincial Superior of the OFMCap in Thailand, Father Anthonio, headed the event and gave a lecture on St. Francis’ Letter to the Faithful, in which he calls to truly live the Gospel. He delivered his talk in Thai, as many of the 47 participants were members of the Third Order Secular. The event was highlighted and concluded with a Eucharistic Celebration.
Africa
Kenya
Portiuncula Center in Nairobi – a dream is coming true
The Portiuncula Center in Nairobi disposes of a new building. On 16 April the building was handed over during a simple and impressive ceremony to the Chairman of the Franciscan Family Association of Africa - FFA, Father George Muthaka OFMCap.
What hopes and expectations have been fulfilled is told in the emotional report written by the Secretary of the Building Committee, Fr. Hermann Borg OFM, which begins with the Kiswahili word “Amani” (Peace). Experts from his report are: “... This event is a step forward for the benefit of each Franciscan Sister and each Franciscan Brother in Africa. Everybody can count on it as his or her spiritual, academic, social Franciscan Center. The dream of the founders, who had started with the planning 20 years ago, has reached the first stage of a most beautiful realization. We have to announce this news throughout Africa with trumpets and drums...”
The new building has 28 rooms and four classrooms. There are diverse facilities and initiatives available for use, among them the Damietta Initiative for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation as well as the courses of the CCFMC.
The official opening and dedication of the Center is scheduled for 18 September 2010 and will be attended by several Bishops.
Latin America
Paraguay
New Board of the Franciscan Family
The Franciscan Family of Paraguay has elected a new Board. During a regular meeting of the association on 26 April 2010 the following persons were elected as members of the new Board:
President: Father Federico Gayoso, TOR
Vice President: Sister Margarita Gonzalez HEFCR
Secretary: Sister Gisela Henao, TC
Administrative Secretary: Alcides Martínez, OFS
Speaker: Sister Onoria Paredes
The International Center of the CCFMC in Würzburg would like to wish all the best in dealing with its duties and responsibilities.
__________________________
Signs of the Times
80 Million People had to make way for dams worldwide already
Example: Belo Monte in Brazil
First-rate dam
Many Thousands of people would lose their homeland through this project and even more animals would die. Nevertheless the Brazilian Government is pushing on with the controversial Bel Monte dam building.
Damages are taken into to the bargain.
… Presently 45,000 large dams are active – i.e. those with more than 15 meters in height or of more than three million cubic meters of water storage space. An additional 1,700 dams are under construction. According to estimates of the World Commission of Dams (WCD) up to 80 million people had to make way for colossal artificial lakes, mostly without receiving any kind of adequate compensation. ...
More information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belo_Monte_Dam
http://www.amazonwatch.org/amazon/BR/bmd/
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